Automatic musical instrument.



c; F. STODDARB. AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MOV. I3. I9II RENEWEU JUNE 22,1918..

1 ,292, l 3 l Patented Jau; 21, 1919.

CHARLES F. STODDARD, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 21, 1919.

Application led November 13, 1911, Serial No. 659,900. Renewed June 22,1918. Serial No. 241,440.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. S'roDDARD, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of New York city, county of New York, and Stateof New York, have invented an Improvement in Automatic MusicalInstruments, of which the following description, in connection with theaccompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters'on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to automatic means for playing musicalinstruments such as pianos and pertains more particularly to means forgoverning and varying tone intensities.

Among other objects, the invention is intended to provide apparatuscapable of governing the energy used for sounding a tone or tones as forstriking the strings of a piano; and the invention contemplates simpleand stable, though accurate and edective means to this end.

For illustration, the accompanying drawing shows one practicableembodiment of the invention employing suitable pneumatically governeddevices in cooperation with a p iano action; but, as will appear tothose skilled in the art, the invention is suitable of employment invarious constructions and organizations other than that particularlyshown and described herein.

1n the drawing is shown a diagrammatic representation of a typical pianoaction with illustrative operating and governing means embodying theinvention.

Referring to the drawing, a typical piano action shown in its normalposition of rest comprises a key-controlled sticker B to act on a wippen1, a hammer C, damper E, string D, and other parts which may be thosewell known in the art. To operate the action pneumatically a motorpneumatic F is provided, having a sticker H to act upon the wippen l. Awind trunk 7 leads to the Wind chests of the motor pneumatics, each ofwhich has a secondary valve 8 controlled by a primary valve 9 operatedfrom the tracker (not shown) through a duct 1() in the usual manner.

The .trunk 7 is intended to lead to some variable means for governing,and preferthe drawings shows a pneumatic 12, the interior of which isconnected with the trunk 7 and also with a trunk 11 which leads to anypracticable source of exhaust, as, for instance, feeder bellows of anyusual or suitable type. With this arrangement the exhaust by the feederbellows or their substitute, sucks air through the trunk 14, through theinterior of the pneumatic 12, and through the trunk 7. For illustration,the movable board of the pneumatic 12 carries a valve 1G which may bemounted by a ball and socket joint upon the end of an adjustablethreaded stem 17, the valve being positioned to throttle more or lessthe opening between the trunk 14 and the interior of the pneumatic 12. Aspring 19 is interposed between the movable board of the pneulmatic 12.and a preferably adjustable device 20, the pull of the spring 19tending to expand the pneumatic 12 and open the valve 16.

The suction in the trunk 14 and pneumatic 12, tends to collapse thelatter against the pull of the spring 19 and thereby to close the valve16 as well understood in the art. The pull of the spring 19 is pret'-erably adjusted so that a suction of greater degree than thatnecessitated for normal playing, is required to close the valve 16. 1twill be obvious to those skilled in the art that a uniform pull, forinstance by the spring 19, upon the movable board of the pneumatic 12,will cause the pneumatic to maintain a substantially uniform suction inthe trunk 7; but if the pull on the movable board of the pneumatic 12 beincreased, the regulating action of the pneumatic 12 will be modified soas to increase the suction maintained in the trunk 7. rI'he parts nextto be described exemplify means for increasing the pull on the movableboard of th'e illustrative pneumatic 12.

A link 22 connects the movable board of the pneumatic 12 with themovable board of a pneumatic 2i which exemplifies means forsupplementing the pull of the spring 1.) or its equivalent orsubstitute. The pneumatic 24 has a bleeding vent and a duct 26communicating with the chamber -t duct 30 is arranged for communicationwith the chamberA 28: and said duct communicates with any practicablesource ot' suction or exhaust. Between the duct 3() and the duct 26 isinterposed a valve 32, said valve and its seat being of such size andformation that as the valve is opened, the extent of the opening is moreor less gradually increased so that the pneumatic condition in the duct26 is subjected to aA progressively increasing extent, to the exhaust-in the duct 30. To exemplify oneA practicable type of such valve, thedrawings'show the valve 32 as conical in shape and having a rim or iangeto seat against an appropriate shoulder in suction is thus admitted tothe pneumatic 24, the bleeding of atmosphere throughv the vent tends toreduce the suction and the resultant suction which is effective to exerta pull on the movable board of the pneumatic 24, depends upon therelative sizes of the vent 25 and the prevailing opening past the valve32. two openings may be varied in any practicable manner, in order tovary the resultant suction acting on the movable board of the pneumatic2st.

For example, in the described illustrative arrangement, any substantialdepressionof the button 34: and consequent opening of the valve 32,admits exhaust to the interior of I the pneumatic 24 sutliciently topredominate over the bleeding at the vent 25, thereby tending 'tocollapse the pneumatic and to exert a pull upon the movable boardthereof. The effect of this is to supplementmore or vless the pull ofthe illustrative spring 19 and to increase the degree of exhaust in thetrunk l' as well understood in the art, whereb v the intensity of notesplayed is increased. lf the button 34 is depressed slowly, the pull b vthe pneumatic 24.- upon fthe movable board of the pneumatic 12 isgradually increased and the playing intensity is likewise graduallyincreased. If, on the other hand, the button 3J; is depressed suddenly,the pull on the movable board of the pneumatic l2 and the playingintensity are likewise suddenly increased.

Fiu'thermore. the force of the pull exerted b v the pneumatic 24 maydepend upon the extent to which the button 34 is depressed, regardlessof the speed of depression thereof. Thus, if the button 3l is depressedonly minutely, the pull of the pneumatic 24 is correspondingly slightwhereas if the button 3-1 is depressed further. the pull by thepneumatic 24 is correspondingljv increased by reason ofthe progressiveincrease of the valve opening as the button 34 is depressed.

The relative sizes of these` Hence, when a player manipulates the button34, he produces a louder or softer playing intensity according as hepresses heavily or lightly upon the button; and thereby the operator isenabled to regulate the playing intensity by reference to the pressurewhich he exerts upon the button Which is a highly natural and logicalarrangement conforming to an instinctive tendency to produce louderplaying by pressing harder. The spning 33 is preferably of suchcharacter and size that it resists depression of the button Withsubstantially the resistance offered by the inertia of a piano key forany given force of attack on the key. To suit this purpose the spring isdesigned to exert a rapidly increasing pressure on the button as thelatter is depressed requiring a greater manual pressure for playingloudly in simulation of the conditions attending playing the keys of apiano. j

The adjustment of the valve l'and the Ipneumatic 12 is preferably suchthat the pneumatic will maintain normally e.

when no material pull is exerted by the pneumatic 24) the lowest degreeof exhaust in the trunk 7 for playing with the softest intensity. `Withsuch an adjustment the range of intensity from pianissimo to fortissimois controllable altogether by manipulation of the button 34 as will bewell understood by those skilled in the art.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specificillustrative apparatus disclosed in the f drawings; on the contrary, theinvention may be variously embodied Within the scope of the subjoinedclaims.

Claims:

1. ln an automatic musical instrument, the combination of strikingpneumatics; an exhaust. trunk leading to the striking pneumatics; aregulating pneumatic communicating with said trunk; a throttle valveoperated by said regulating pneumatic to control the degree of exhaustin said trunk; a spring tending to expand said pneumatic and open saidvalve; a governing pneumatic connected to the movable board of saidregulating pneumatic, and operable in opposition thereto; meansproviding a valve chamber; a duct connecting the interiorof saidgoverning pneumatic With said chamber; a second duct leading to saidchamber from a source of exhaust; a needle valve and its seat in saidchamber between said two ducts; and a depressible button connected tothe needle valve and arranged to open the valve progressively as thebutton is depressed.

2. In an automatic musical instrument. thev combinationOfstriking'pneumatics; an exhaust trnnk'leading to the strikingpneumatics; a regulating pneumatic communicatingwith said trunk; athrottle valve operated by said regulating pneumatic to control naeaiaithe degree of exhaust in said trunk; a governing pneumatic connected tothe movable board of said regulating pneumatic; and operable inopposition thereto; means providing a valve chamber; a duct connectingthe interior of said governing pneumatic with said chamber; a secondduct leading to said chamber from a source ot exhaust; a needle valveand its seat in said chamber between said two ducts; and an adjustablebutton connected to the valve and arranged to open the valveprogressively as the button is adjusted.

3. ln an automatic musical instrument, the combination of strikingpneumatics; an exhaust trunk leading to the striking pneumatics; aregulating pneumatic communicating with said trunk; a throttle valveoperated by said regulating pneumatic to control the degree of exhaustin said trunk; a governing pneumatic connected to the movable board ofsaid regulating pneumatic, and operable in opposition thereto; a valvemechanism for controlling admission of exhaust to said governingpneumatic comprising a needle valve; and a depressible button connectedto the needle valve and arranged to open the valve progressively as thebutton is depressed.

4. in an automatic musical instrument,

the combination of striking pneumatics; an exhaust trunk leading to thestriking pneumatics; a throttle valve to control the degree of exhaustin said trunk; a governing pneumatic connected to said throttle valve;means providing a valve chamber; a duct connecting the interior of saidgoverning pneumatic with said chamber; a second duct leading to saidchamber from a source ot exhaust; a needle valve between said two ducts;and means to operate the needle valve.

5. ln lan automatic musical instrument, the combination of strikingpneumatics; an exhaust trunk leading to the striking pneumatics; aregulating pneumatic communicating with said trunk; a throttle valveoperated by said regulating pneumatic to control the degree ot exhaustin said trunk; a gov-v erning pneumatic connected to the movable boardof said regulating pneumatic, and operable in opposition thereto; and avalve mechanism controlling introduction of exhaust to said governingpneumatic comprising a valve and its seat constructed to presentcontinuously progressive variation of the passage for exhaust to saidgoverning pneumatic.

6. ln an automatic musical instrument, the combination of strikingpneumatics; an exhaust trunk leading to the striking pneumatics; a valvefor throttling the loivof air in the exhaust trunk; a pneumatic having amovable part connected to said throttle valve; a valve mechanism forcontrolling.

the admission of' exhaust to said pneumatic;

com risin a valve and its seat relativel I constructed to provide aprogressively enlarged valve passage as the valve is opened; and amanually operated device connected to said valve to effect continuouslyprogressive opening of the same by correspondingly progressive pressureupon said device.

In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of strikingpneumatics; an exhaust trunk leading to the striking pneumatics; a valvefor throttling the flow of air in said trunk; a pneumatic connected tosaid throttle valve; and valve mechanism for controlling theintroduction of exhaust to said pneumatic, comprising a manual vbuttonand valve mounted upon a common stem', a seat for said valve; the valveand seat being relatively constructed to present a continuouslyprogressive enlargement of the valve passage as the valve is opened.

8. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of strikingpneumatics; an exhaust trunk leading to the striking pneumatics; a valveto throttle the tlow of air in said exhaust trunk; a pneumatic connectedto said valve; a valve box; a unitary valve; a manual button and theircommon stem, mounted upon said valve box; a seat for the valve in saidvalve box; an exhaust duct communicating with said box on one side ofthe valve seat; and a second duct communicating with the box at theother side of said valve seat and connecting the same with the interiorof said pneumatic, f

9. ln an automatic musical. instrument, the combination of a wind trunk;a throttle valve for throttling the flow of air in said trunk; throttlevalve operating means; a pneumatic connected to said throttievalveoperating means; means to introduce exhaust into said pneumatic; aybutton operable by manual pressure; and means operated by said buttonfor effecting a continuously progressive increase in the exhaustintroduced into said pneumatic.

10. ln an automat-ic musical instrument, the combination of a windtrunk; a valve for throttling the iiow of air in said trunk; operatingmeans tor said throttle valve; a button operated by manual pressurethereon; and transmission means, including a pneumatic connected to saidthrottle valve operating means intermediate said button and throttlevalve for edecting a continuously progressive opening of the throttlevalve by progressively increasing the pressure on said button.

11. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of a wind trunk;a valve for throttling the flow of air in said trunk; oppositely actingmeans for controlling said valve; and pneumatic means 'for supplementingone of said oppositely acting means, comprising a pneumatic; means forintroducing exhaust to. the pneumatic, means for Venting the pneumaticto atmosphere, and manually controlled means for varyin the relationbetween the admission ot exhaust and the venting to produce any desiredtone intensity.

12. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of strikingpneumatics; an exhaust trunk leading to the striking pneumatics; a valve for throttling the flow of air in said trunk; a pneumatic connectedto the -throttling valve; a duct to admit suction to said pneumatic; avent in said pneumatic Vto atmosphere, and means to vary relatively theadmission of exhaust and atmosphere thereby to the pneumatic.

13. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of strikingpneumatics; an exhaust trunk leading to the striking pneumatics; a valvefor throttling the flow of air in said trunk; a pneumatic connected tosaid throttling valve; a vent for said pneumatic to atmosphere; andmanually controllable means for variably admitting exhaust to thepneumatic to produce any intensity of tone desired.

14. In an automatic musical instrument,

the combination of a Wind trunk; a valveV for throttling the flow of airin said trunk; means for operating said throttle valve; a buttonoperated by manual pressure thereon, the resistance of said buttonsimulating the resistance offered by a piano key; and transmission meansintermediate said button and throttle valve operating means, andincluding a pneumatic connected to said throttle operating means foropening the throttle valve progressively by pressure on said button. y

15. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination' of a Windtrunk; a throttle valve for throttling the flow of air in said trunk; abutton depressible by manual presthrottle valve operating means; andmanually controlled means, including a pneumatic connected to saidthrottle valveoperating means, for effecting a continuously progressivevariation in the capacity of said throttle valve.

17. In an automatic musical instrument, the combination of a Wind trunk;a Valve for throttling the flow of air in said trunk; pneumatic meansfor operating said throttle'valve; and manually controlled means,including a pneumatic, connected -to said throttle valve operating meansfor eiecting a continuously progressive opening or closing of saidthrottle valve.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, inthe presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

CHARLES F. STODDARD.

lVitnesses A. P. CoNRADT,

J. BYRNE.

